CommonHealth KentuckyBEHAVIORAL HEALTH FRANKFORT KY

Addiction to drugs or alcohol is often accompanied by poor habits that negatively affect our day-to-day operations, how we feel emotionally, how we behave and our internal biology. All of this refers to our behavioral health. Frankfort, KY treatment center, CommonHealth Kentucky, helps to instill positive behaviors and improve mental well-being for patients. You may hear the terms “behavioral health” and “mental health” used interchangeably, but typically behavioral health incorporates significantly more than just our mental well being and includes the individual behaviors that play out in our day-to-day actions and how those behaviors impact our lives.

If this has you wondering, “what is behavioral health treatment?” Consider this:
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, “behavioral health treatments and services help people with common mental illnesses and substance use disorders…to change behaviors, thoughts, emotions, and how people see and understand situations.”

Effective behavioral health treatment approaches generally involve a mix of counseling and medication to address individual needs and symptoms. Together, these treatments help patients to achieve ideal mental and physical health while incorporating healthy habits into their day-to-day routines. Treating patients to improve behavioral health alongside physical health is one of several ways that CommonHealth Kentucky helps Frankfort patients to take control of their substance abuse problems and manage the disease of addiction.

Poor behavioral health is often reflected by a number of recognizable behavioral health symptoms that negatively impact the well-being of the patient. Perhaps these symptoms have already been associated with mental illness? Patients commonly struggle with many of the following negative symptoms of behavioral health when they enter treatment for addiction to drugs or alcohol:

• Changes in sleep routines. Frequently dreaming about drugs or alcohol.
• Changes in eating patterns. Avoiding food or experiencing what may be referred to as a “liquid diet” when alcohol takes the place of healthy caloric consumption.
• Disordered eating patterns. Consuming significantly less (or more) food while intoxicated, or consuming unhealthy foods while under the influence.
• Changes in social patterns. Placing yourself in risky situations while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or avoiding time with friends or family in favor of using drugs or alcohol.
• Risk taking behaviors. Frequently engaging in behaviors that are dangerous, suspicious, or otherwise secretive.

These common signs of behavioral health problems are often recognized in active addiction, but prior to behavior patterns spiraling out of control a patient may experience less severe behavioral health symptoms such as:

• Sleeping less. Staying up later or for longer periods of time.
• Sleeping more.Being excessively tired and sleeping long hours.
• Poor hygiene.  Infrequent bathing. Less teeth or hair brushing.
• Less focus on personal self-care. Not taking care of oneself.

Each of these behaviors and the way that they impact the patient’s physical wellness and mental health symptoms are of concern when receiving treatment for addiction to drugs or alcohol.

Seeking effective behavioral health counseling services in Frankfort, KY is a key part of the recovery and healing process for those struggling with substance abuse and mental health problems. The Affordable Care Act requires certain essential health benefits for patients including coverage for mental and behavioral health as well as for substance abuse treatment protocols. Thus, most health insurance plans provide minimum essential coverage for patients that present with typical behavioral health symptoms and require beneficial treatment for both mental illness and substance use disorder.

If you or someone you care about is considering substance abuse treatment and counseling for behavioral health, Frankfort, KY based CommonHealth Kentucky provides integrated services for patients with unique needs. We take the steps needed to encourage healing and improvements for your behavioral wellness while providing comprehensive care for underlying mental illness and behavioral patterns that are often disruptive to recovery. Our behavioral health counseling services in Frankfort, KY include:

• Individual Counseling.
• Group counseling.
• Family counseling.
• Peer support.
• Trauma focused recovery counseling.
• Relapse prevention.

CommonHealth’s behavioral health counselors support patients as they work through many behavioral patterns that have presented as a result of their substance abuse as well as those that may have been present prior to drug or alcohol use. The goal is to address underlying patterns that have arisen out of crisis and improve behaviors while laying the foundation for recovery and healing so that patients can live a sober, healthy lifestyle.